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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Ms. Jennie Granger." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mgranger@mail.ua>
Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2015 23:42:20 +0100
Subject: Notification

HM Revenue & Customs - 100 Parliament St.
London, SW1A 2BQ. United Kingdom
Department:  Audit and Risk Committee Team
 
Message: Sole Beneficiary
File Code: RC/8366-32
This is to inform you that I have been assigned to conclude your fund payment case and I am notifying you through this channel because your email address is contained in the documents presently forwarded to our department for correction. Following the recent information concerning the issues delaying the payment of your funds, we have reviewed more cases of delayed payments including your records and have made effective efforts in resolving and releasing most individual's unpaid funds which includes contract/inheritance funds, gambling/lottery awarded funds (sponsored by multinational companies) and other private business suspended/withheld funds yet to be paid to its beneficiary's foreign account worldwide.
In view of the above, our defense strategy has yielded a voluminous result through immense resolution of financial issues with our local and foreign financial units involved in your case and our extensive investigation confirmed that you are the original beneficiary approved to receive an advanced payment of $ 1,000,000.00 (One Million United State Dollars) through international certified bank draft to you.
 
The name and contact address of the Person with your Cheque is Mr. Aaron Smith, is as follows.
 
COMPENSATION AND FINANCE HOUSE HEAD OFFICE
CONTACT AGENT MR Aaron Smith. 
Email: smith_mraaron@mail.ua
 
Further to this development, you are advised to provide a direct reachable telephone number and details of your residential address for postal delivery. Please note that if the required details are not provided, you will be enlisted as undocumented and you will never be paid.
 
For more information, kindly contact Mr. Aaron Smith and forward all inquires and requirements for delivery of your international Certified Bank.
 
Yours Sincerely,
Ms. Jennie Granger.
(Director General Enforcement & Compliance).
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC).
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